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Jesus is the door (John 10:1-10)

The purpose of the Gospel of John is to reveal who Jesus is. After Jesus heals the man born blind, Jesus engages in a discourse with the religious leaders of His day. This discourse is recorded in 10:1-42. In having this discussion, Jesus makes it very clear who He really is.

Jesus speaks a parable to the religious leaders in order to reveal to them their true nature in comparison to who He is. In that day, shepherds would leave their sheep at night in a fenced area along with other sheep. The porter is the guard standing in front of the gate. When a shepherd came to get his sheep, the porter would recognize the shepherd and will let him in the gate. The shepherd would then call out to his sheep. The sheep recognizes the voice of their shepherd and follows him out of the gate. In verse six, we see how the religious leaders did not understand this parable that Jesus spoke to them, therefore, in verses 7-10 Jesus explains the parable to them.

Jesus is the door (v. 7). Jesus is the entryway by which the sheep come and go. The sheep that Jesus is referring to is the nation of Israel.

The religious leaders are the thieves and robbers (v. 8). The religious leaders are those who came before Jesus who acted as if they were the true shepherd, yet, they are not. Instead, they have become thieves and robbers who hinder the sheep from following their true shepherd. We need to be very careful to watch out for false shepherds today. There are many religious leaders today who lead people away from Christ, rather than leading people to Christ. It is important that we listen to the voice of our true shepherd.

Jesus is the door (v. 9). Warren Wiersbe says, “Since the people did not understand His symbolic language, Jesus followed the illustration with an application (John 10:7–10). Twice He said, “I am the Door.” He is the Door of the sheepfold and makes it possible for the sheep to leave the fold (the religion of Judaism) and to enter His flock. The Pharisees threw the beggar out of the synagogue, but Jesus led him out of Judaism and into the flock of God! But the Shepherd does not stop with leading the sheep out; He also leads them in. They become a part of the “one flock” (not “fold”) which is His church. He is the Door of salvation (John 10:9). Those who trust Him enter into the Lord’s flock and fold, and they have the wonderful privilege of going “in and out” and finding pasture. When you keep in mind that the shepherd actually was the “door” of the fold, this image becomes very real.”[1] Wiersbe goes on to say, “As the Door, Jesus delivers sinners from bondage and leads them into freedom. They have salvation! This word “saved” means “delivered safe and sound.” It was used to say that a person had recovered from severe illness, come through a bad storm, survived a war, or was acquitted at court.”[2] There are some who think that we should not use the word ‘saved’ anymore. But, Jesus used that word! I don’t know about you, but, I am not ashamed to say that I am saved and that lost sinners need to be saved!

I am come that they might have life(v. 10). Jesus said that He came to save the lost sheep of Israel from the bondage of the law and from the deadness of religion. He came to give them what the law could never give. He came to give them life. This life is not only available for the Jews, but it is also available to all who believe on the Lord Jesus. All who come to faith in Jesus will have eternal life. Not only is eternal life given, but also abundant life for today. Jesus does not just save us for the future, but He saves us today. You can live a full, complete, abundant life on this earth. As Christians, we have the best of both worlds. We have the best in this life and in the life to come!

Jesus is calling you out of your personal religion and ideas and He is calling you into a new and wonderful abundant life in Him. Will you answer that call? Will go through the door?